Chapter 384: Signs of Power Struggle
Ganquan Mountain, under Zhen Mi’s wooden building.

The three giants of the shogunate sat under the arbour and stared blankly. Kong Rong was indifferent and just sat in front of the campfire, warming himself with his hands spread out in the upwind direction.

Sima Zhang Ding had a stern face, but Chief Clerk Cui Zhouping was unwilling to give up and urged him, "Cao Cao is a great hero in the world. He has sent all his troops to attack us. How can we underestimate him? Now the situation is urgent. We should mobilize all the troops in the three prefectures and ask for help from General Pingnan and General Hebei to attack Heluo from both sides and attack Cao Cao from behind."

Zhang Ding turned his head to look in other directions: "Your Majesty is not here, we cannot mobilize troops! Who can make the decision on diplomatic matters without the king's permission?"

"The Lord is not here, but the Mistress is here. How can you say there is no Lord?"

Cui Zhouping glared with a righteous look on his face, and shouted: "Now we have only mobilized six counties in the east of Jingzhao, seven counties in the east of Fengyi, and seven counties in the southeast of Hedong, with a total of less than 10,000 soldiers and horses. The combined troops of Hongnong are no more than 20,000. How can we resist Cao Cao's 100,000 troops? Once the enemy breaks through Tongguan, how can we face the king!"

Zhang Ding turned around and glared at Cui Zhouping: "Before the king left, he had secretly given the lady a transfer order, and the matter of defending the east side against the enemy has been entrusted to General Gan Xingba. Doesn't the chief historian trust the king's decision?"

"But Cao Cao has an army of 100,000 strong, all of them are fierce and powerful!"

Cui Zhouping stared at Zhang Ding angrily: "Hangu Pass is just a facade, and it has fallen into the hands of the enemy. How can General Xingba, who is stationed in the small city of Mianchi, resist? Will our great foundation in Guanzhong be burned to ashes by Cao's army?"

"Your Majesty has made arrangements, and Madam will not interfere in military affairs or foreign affairs. I hope Lord Changshi will not embarrass Madam!"

Zhang Ding also straightened his back and glared at Cui Zhouping, also panting and shouting at the top of his voice.

Cui Zhouping saw that he could not suppress Zhang Ding, so he turned to look at Kong Rong and said, "Mr. Wen Ju, this is a matter of national survival, and it concerns the safety of millions of soldiers and civilians in Guanzhong. Why don't you speak for justice?"

Kong Rong saw that some of his subordinates were looking at him eagerly with expectant looks on their faces.

After frowning and thinking for a while, Kong Rong said, "When it comes to the use of troops, no one in the world can match you. To use troops, the first thing is to know yourself and the enemy. In my opinion, General Xingba must have extraordinary talents unknown to the world, so he is valued by you and entrusted with important tasks."

Cui Zhouping laughed angrily, raised his hand and slapped his forehead, and jumped anxiously: "Mr. Wen Ju! I have been in Jingzhou for a long time, how can I not know what kind of person Gan Xingba is? This person has always been arrogant and has no experience in major battles. How can he resist Cao Cao?"

Feeling that it was a bit rude to spit on Kong Rong's face, Cui Zhouping took a half step back and sat cross-legged, trying to speak in a calm tone: "In my opinion, Gan Xingba has run out of tricks. How can a general in the world personally go to rob a camp? If he fails and the situation is ruined, how can he explain to the king?"

"Although he was lucky enough to win a small victory today, he also lied about the military situation. How could a thousand people raid a camp and return together? He lied about the military situation so arrogantly. Did he think we were ignorant of military affairs or that we were stupid?"

Cui Zhouping couldn't control his emotions again. He really looked down on Gan Ning. Gan Ning's victory report was full of doubts and could not stand up to scrutiny.

Many officials with life experience also agreed with this; they really looked down on Gan Ning.

Even if the battle report reported a 30% loss, everyone could still barely accept it.

Who could believe the report that no one was hurt?
This is not a question of how much loss there is on the front line, but Gan Ning’s attitude is problematic!
The remaining chief clerk Zhuge Jin sat at the bottom without saying a word, trying hard to make his presence invisible.

At this moment, Cui Zhouping turned around and looked at him: "Zhuge Zhubu, please inform the mistress and ask her to make the decision on this matter."

Zhuge Jin didn't want to get involved in this matter, but he was also worried about Gan Ning's problems, so he said, "Lord Changshi, even if Hongnong is lost, there are more than 10,000 soldiers and volunteers from Fengyi and the 13 eastern counties of Jingzhao stationed in Tongguan. With the speed of Cao's army, when they arrive, we will be able to verify the truth of the battle report in Mianchi. It won't be too late to make a decision then, so don't embarrass Madam."

After Zhuge Jin finished speaking, he looked at the Huangge officials who stayed behind and said, "It's getting late, it's not appropriate to disturb Madam, let's go."

Ignoring the officials who were looking at each other in bewilderment, Zhuge Jin stood up to leave. Seeing Cui Zhouping reaching out to grab his collar, Zhuge Jin turned around and rolled twice to avoid him, then stood up and quickly prepared to leave.

Cui Zhouping went to see Sima Zhi of the Western Cao again and said: "Zihua is trusted by the emperor and is in charge of the internal affairs of the shogunate. Why don't you speak up for the mistress?"

Sima Zhi raised his eyebrows and looked at Cui Zhouping: "I agree with Sima Zhang's opinion. When it comes to selecting soldiers and generals, no one in the world can compare to you. Since you have entrusted the affairs of the east to General Xingba, we can just wait for good news."

Cui Zhouping asked: "But what if the situation changes?"

Sima Zhi smiled and said, "I used to be the commander of Jingzhao. If General Xingba fails, the defenders of Tongguan can at least hold off Cao's army for five days. Within five days, Jingzhao can send out 20,000 troops, cooperate with Fufeng and Fengyi, and gather 80,000 troops within ten days."

After a pause, Sima Zhi continued, "Only half of the garrisons in the thirteen counties east of Jingzhao and Fengyi have been mobilized, and the remaining half will be transferred to Tongguan within two days. Therefore, Tongguan is absolutely safe and there will be no accidents. It is enough to hold out until the reinforcements from the three auxiliary provinces gather!" Cui Zhouping went to see Fu Gan of the Eastern Cao again. Fu Gan simply sneered, "The Chief Clerk openly questioned the generals appointed by the monarch, and then asked the lady to make the decision. Did you have this idea because you heard the lady's Hebei accent a few days ago?"

Fu Gan stood up, straightened his collar and sleeves, and said calmly, "Please, Sir, for the sake of our hometown, please do not cause trouble for my lady."

After saying that, Fu Gan turned around and left leisurely.

Several officials from Guanzhong looked at each other and left.

Cui Zhouping stood there and took a deep breath, then looked at Kong Rong again. Kong Rong still smiled and said, "If Liu Jingsheng could recognize and employ people, why would he be in such trouble? Haven't you seen the story of the precious jade in Jingshan? In my opinion, this General Xingba is the precious jade in Jingshan, and only Your Majesty can recognize his great talent."

"Whatever, that's all."

Cui Zhouping sighed: "I am also worried that your Majesty's foundation will be damaged."

No one responded. Instead, Zhuge Jin turned around and left, taking everyone from Huang Ge with him.

Huang Ge had already left, so the other Cao supervisors and adjutants dared not stay any longer and all left.

In the blink of an eye, only the three officials of the shogunate were left. Si Zhi Kong Rong also struggled, rubbing his sore waist and hips. He wanted to say something to Cui Zhouping, but he held back a long sigh, turned around and left.

Sima Zhang Ding also stood up, put on his helmet and fastened the helmet strap, and said to the female officer on duty: "When the enemy invades the border, there will inevitably be spies who will take the opportunity to cause chaos. We will patrol strictly at night. If there is any enemy situation, blow the copper whistle, and the patrol knights will respond."

"Yes."

The sturdy female official wearing a leather helmet and leather armor bowed to greet him. Zhang Ding then glanced at Cui Zhouping's profile, turned around and left without saying anything.

As Zhang Ding left, the pairs of guards holding spears standing around him turned around one after another and left with Zhang Ding.

Cui Zhouping was helpless. Seeing the female official assigning two female guards with torches to show him the way, Cui Zhouping had to turn around, unable to straighten his back anymore, and followed the dim firelight away.

Upstairs, beside the window, Zhen Mi lowered her brows and watched the groups of shogunate officials leaving.

She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the wooden door outside was closed.

Only then did she raise her hands and rub her belly, feeling very sad.

I can't help but feel tired of my current life and want to go to the front line.

She could vaguely hear the argument below. She didn't want to reveal her identity, nor did she want to get involved in the fight between the Hebei and Guanlong people.

But the news of his Hebei origin could no longer be concealed, and all kinds of temptations would soon come to him.

Zhen Mi felt under great pressure and was resentful towards Cui Zhouping.

Even Fu Gan, who brought up the matter, was hated by her.

Since Fu Gan dared to point it out, he must not be afraid that I would bear a grudge against him... Maybe Fu Gan is already trying to find a way to destroy me.

While Zhen Mi felt the pressure, feelings of panic gathered from all directions.

As for seeking support and protection from people in Hebei, this would expose one's identity and implicate one's family.

Besides, after sharing the same bed for such a long time, Zhen Mi didn’t want to have anything to do with other forces.

(End of this chapter)